Kristof on why we should be willing to spend more in infrastructure: Because it will save us all money!

In New Jersey, the gas tax hasn’t been increased since 1992, and two-thirds of the roads are now evaluated as in poor or mediocre condition. The upshot, one study found, is that the average motorist spends $601 per year in repair costs. It sure seems as if society would be better off spending a little in taxes to improve roads and then saving on car repairs — not to mention in injuries and fatalities averted.

The American Society of Civil Engineers gives America a grade of D+ for infrastructure and estimates congestion on highways costs the economy $101 billion annually in wasted time and fuel. A study of American bridges found that more than 66,000 in America are structurally deficient; laid end to end, the deficient ones would reach from Canada to Mexico.

For those who claim this is a narrow ruling an unlikely to be expanded. The court ordered review of 3 cases, all of which object to any contraceptive services. 5 old catholic men just gave carte blanche to slamming the door on basic health care.

Cases ordered reconsidered in appeals courts:

Autocam Corp. v. Burwell. The Catholic owners of a Michigan company that manufactures products for the auto and medical supply industries objected to all forms of services covered by the mandate. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit rejected claims on behalf both of the owners and of their company separately. The Supreme Court vacated that ruling and ordered a new look under Hobby Lobby.